Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-08-17

/ OF II better the stlrring and rubbing
out, than the standing still. Aren't
the new wave marks as graceful as the
/ oldp"
Perhaps"
This half-satirisal sparring was one
OF their customs. She seemed specially
TO delight in II. lie was always glanc-
Ing of into personalities-her person.
ality-but sire liked to reflect, and to
say peryerse things.
Just then 4 loager-reachIng swash
came boldly up AMI crawled all about
her feet. Thanks TO the stout boots,
she got away with little wetting. But
| Manchester was distressed.
"1 our feet are wet, Miss Shepherd. -
ION the outside-yes."
"Be reasonable. The water must
nave crept inside, I atn sure; and it Is
4 great risk"
II get them wet every day. never
suffer from it-''
~ have a suspicion that in order TO
keep You out OF the water, one would
have to command you to go into it. 1
am sure you would go dry-shod all your
life, II some one should plead with you
to wade -
Oh. how she tantalized and vexed
him.
Really" in a half-injured tone,
they are thoroughly dry. / run no
risk"
Manchester deliberated before he
made any further advance. Then lift
Ing up the umbrella and scanning it its
entire length, he said, with some exas-
peration:
How does 1t happen that for merely
one asking am in possession OF this
article? 1 should suppose that because
wanted to carry it L couldn't have
had it on any terms.''
| "Oh, that Is easily explained. You
| dii not rant to carry lit was merely
a stress of politeness that impelled you
! - ask TO do it. If you had really
cTaved the pleasure, of course you
| couldn't have had it.''
II hate an umbrellaI" he answered
with vehemence. You can have it
back, Miss Shepherd. 1t will serve as
a support instead OF my arm.''
Il get on very well without either, "
she replied.
| No sooner was this uttered than a
sudden whim on the part of the storm
sent the rain pouring down upon them.
1t was a retiring salaam-an ELUSIVE
Gu rerOir.
There was moments grim satisfac-
tion to Manchester in seeing the water
dashed into her defenceless face. He
would have felt thoroughly justified in
| leaving her to get the full force of il as
long as 1t should last.
But pity and tenderness very quickly
succeeded.
With great difficulty he opened the
umbrella, took her hand with frmness.
drew il closely within his arm, and
| sheltered her as best he could.
a group of dwarf pines was near, a
little back from the beach in the sand.
He drew her toward them. and they
proved an excellent barrier against the
storm. 1t was comparatively calm
there, but she was forced to stand very
close to him so as to avoid the deluge-
He looked down into her glowing
face. 1t did not seem at all to him as
If either OF them lacked good sense in
beirg there. 1t was delightful, bliss
full.
Would you have been as generous
to me-" he said, bending down to her,
''if you had had the umbrella, and /
had been trying by every means 10 pick
a quarrel with you?"
'Quarrel?"
She lifted her eyes in surprised ques-
ton, a moment, but dropped them at
once with a vivid blush. She met
something in his, which were at too
close range TO be evaded, that made her
heart beat terribly.
But she rallied.
II never quarrel. 1t Is you who dis
tract me always; and because L am not
"I-?n
"Yes. YOU"
Yes, 1 love you, Annie"
There was no escape. no room what
ever for coquetry. To turn to the one
side was to be drenched, TO turn to the
other was to be almost within his arms.
She was at tremendous d!sadvant-
age She wanted TO laugh, but, in
stead, q little tIemor went over her
chin, and she began to CRY.
How he comfOrted her. how he
soothed her, let the umbrella tell, for It
shut them away from all observers
until her self-cOntrol was quite re-
stored.
When he lifted it again, to take a
peep at the prospect without, she was
smiling.
Rival Showers" he said, with a
spark OF malice.
The spark kIndled no resentment.
She would not seem to hear.
"Do you hate this umbrelIa?" was her
adroit question to turn the subject.
Observation again. caused by the
umbrellas sinking once uore over thelI
heads.
Standing in the rain for length of
time may have romantic elements iH
1t, but can never be wholly without
anxiety or discomfort. Manchester
liked one feature of 1.-THE proximity
But however kindly the umbrella had
lent itself to their purposes, 1t had
failed to keep them dry
So they started homeward, arm In
arm, as they had not come lie Wa:
tender, she compliant
How much sweeter woman is who
, has been vanquished, than one born
. tractable, :" thought the victor.
. The wind was now at their backs
and helped to speed them along. L,
must have had q sense of the ludIcrou:
about 1t, too, for it suddenly got under
the umbrella, and almost carried 1t out
OF Manchester's hands. The handle
would stay with him, but the top would
not. 1t made a complete revolution Of
, itself-in other words-turned the
wrong side out.
. Miss Shepherd was forced TO relax
r her grip on her lovers arm; his energies
! were centered elsewhere. In one mo
ment more the fatal ''yes" would have
, been spoken; but Fate interposed a
hiatus, as Fate Is apt to do.
Manchester had a great deal or OBJ
? stinacy that was wont to come to the
front in emergencies Neither his atti
tude nor gait was at the present mo
ment dignified, but he manifested 1
! determination not TO be conquered bl
. an lnauimate thing he h.d so often re
r ! yiled.
He was in a fine chase after it, wher
his hat caught the contagion and wen
Z dying off his head in advance.
Then disgust overlook him. He CAV,
: the umbrella a gay toss, and, bare
headed. returned to Annie. Sle wa.